Best Packaging for Bottled Beverages: What You Need to Know

Whether you’re selling water, soda, or craft beer, packaging plays a huge role in how your bottled beverages are perceived, transported, and preserved. From durability and cost to environmental impact, choosing the right packaging can make or break your product’s success. But with so many options on the market, how do you know which packaging is the best for your bottled beverages? 

‍

In this article, we’ll dive into the best packaging options for bottled beverages, exploring the pros and cons of each material so you can make an informed decision that benefits both your business and your customers. 

Glass Bottles 

Glass has long been a popular choice for packaging beverages, especially in premium markets. It’s a classic, sturdy material that conveys a sense of quality and sustainability. But is glass the right choice for your bottled beverages? Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages:

Pros 

• Preserves flavor: Glass is non-reactive, meaning it won’t affect the taste of the beverage. This is especially important for products like wine, beer, and kombucha because flavor integrity is key. In fact, research shows that glass packaging is preferred by 60% of consumers for maintaining flavor and quality. 
• Sustainable: Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without losing quality. According to the Glass Packaging Institute, over 70% of recovered glass containers are made into new glass bottles. 
• Premium appeal: Glass packaging often signals a higher-quality product, making it an attractive option for premium or artisanal beverages. 

Cons

• Fragility: Glass is prone to breaking, which can lead to higher transportation and storage costs, as well as potential safety risks for both employees and consumers. Data from the World Packaging Organization shows that glass breakage leads to an average of 10-15% higher shipping costs compared to plastic. 
• Heavier and expensive to ship: The weight of glass bottles increased shipping costs, which may affect your bottom line. 

Plastic Bottles (PET)

PET plastic bottles are widely used in the beverage industry, particularly for water, sodas, and sports drinks. They are known for their lightweight nature and cost-efficiency, but they come with their own set of pros and cons. 

Pros

• Lightweight and cost-effective: PET bottles are significantly lighter than glass, which makes them cheaper to produce, transport, and store. According to a study by The Association for Plastic Recyclers, plastic bottles have an average weight of 20-30 grams compared to 200 grams for a standard glass bottle. 
• Shatterproof: Unlike glass, plastic bottles are durable and less likely to break, making them safer for transportation and handling. 
• Recyclable: While not as environmentally friendly as glass, PET bottles can still be recycled. In fact, many brands are moving toward using 100% recycled PET (rPET). According to PETRA, recycling one ton of plastic bottles saves about 3.8 barrels of oil. 

Cons

• Environmental concerns: Plastic has a poor reputation due to its contribution to pollution. Even though PET is recyclable, only 29% of plastic bottles in the US are recycled, according to the EPA. 
• Affects taste: Some consumers report that beverages, particularly water, can take on a slight plastic taste when packaged in PET. A Consumer Reports study found that 15% of respondents could taste a difference when water was bottled in plastic versus glasses. 

‍

Aluminum Cans

Aluminum is becoming an increasingly popular packaging option for bottled beverages, particularly in the craft beer and sparkling water markets. It offers some unique advantages, but it may not be right for every product. 

Pros

• Highly recyclable: Aluminum is one of the most recycled materials in the world, with a recycling rate of nearly 75% according to the Aluminum Association. 
• Lightweight and durable: Aluminum cans are lightweight and shatterproof, making them easy to transport and store without the risk of breakage. 
• Protects from light and oxygen: Unlike glass and plastic, aluminum cans provide a complete barrier against light and oxygen, which helps preserve the freshness and taste of beverages like beer and carbonated drinks. According to BeverageDaily, aluminum cans preserve beverage quality for up to 6 months longer than other materials. 

Cons

• Perceived value: Some consumers associate aluminum cans with lower-quality products, especially when compared to glass. This can be a hurdle for premium brands. 
• Not suitable for all beverages: While aluminum is great for carbonated beverages and beer, it may not be the best choice for beverages like juice or wine, where the packaging may affect the product’s flavor profile over time.

Tetra Pak (Carton Packaging)

Tetra Pak and other carton packaging options are becoming more common, particularly for non-carbonated beverages like juice, milk, and plant-based drinks. These packages offer a unique combination of sustainability and convenience. 

Pros

• Eco-friendly: Tetra Pak cartons are made primarily from renewable resources, such as paperboard, and they’re recyclable in many areas. According to Tetra Pak’s Sustainability Report, over 70% of the material used in its cartons comes from renewable resources. 
• Lightweight: Cartons are easy to transport, helping to lower shipping costs and reduce your carbon footprint. 
• Extended shelf life: Tetra Pak’s aseptic packaging technology ensures beverages stay fresh for a long time without the need for refrigeration, resudinc waste and saving energy. 

Cons

• Limited recyclability: While Tetra Pak is recyclable, it requires specialized facilities that are not available everywhere, meaning many cartons still end up in landfills. 
• Not as durable: Cartons are more prone to damage during shipping than aluminum cans or plastic bottles. 

‍